The New Deal + Expedition Build + "Son's" Truck

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weejub

weejub

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jan 4, 2011
Threads
91
Messages
6,406
Location
Pittsboro, NC
So for a while, the plan was the wife and I would have 3rd Gens and we would have them forever and everyone was happy.

I'd do mild rock crawling with the club with mine, but it would also be our go-anywhere vehicle for camping vacations, trips down to the Niangua where we river guid, etc.

We would use her stock one for non-camping trips and shorter around town/area driving.


Then we decided we wanted a bigger engine for the road and we test drove a 2003 GX470 and fell in love with it for her to replace her 3rd gen. Of course at that point it was "game on" for me to find a 4th Gen as the V8 is very compelling.

That leads to the third strategy (*embarrassed*) in two years and a whole new line up for us.

We also have a near-14-year-old and so now, I have an excuse to have a third vehicle *wink* (this will come up later).


So here is the NEW plan:

Wife is set with a 2003 GX470 - new tires and it has 38" of rear seat leg room. If the rear airbags crap out on it, we are going back with OME coils, etc.


I just picked up a new-to-me 2004 4Runner from the Rev/Dr/Mr Moody who built it up a bit before going back to a 100.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/608692-2004-toyota-4runner-v8-slc-ut.html

He took good care of it and it has OME heavy front/back with a dual Sears DieHard Platinum, IBS system, fancy skid plate and a ARB front and ARB pump.

It has some get-up and go!


And with that, I plan on adding a few things:

1. BajaRack - Already ordered it. Only one version available and that is fine as it is a "long" rack. BWJ spoke VERY highly of this company and so it was an easy choice. Plus the fit looks wonderful (like his 4Runner and Tundra).

http://www.bajarack.com/toyota-4runner-4g

2. New Kenwood Head Unit and cockpit set up. This will give me in-dash Garmin GPS, bluetooth mic, two USBs for charging and portable music. I'll get rid of the need for two micro USB charges in the process and give myself two new ones to go next to my cigarette lighter outlet.

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/eXcelon/Mobile_Video_n_Navigation/DNX9990HD

I also wanted a holster/holder for a phone / iPod or iPhone - tired of them roaming around cup holders, etc. I'm mounting this:

http://panavise.com/pdf_indash/75137-303.pdf

Plus this: http://panavise.com/index.html?pageID=1&page=full&--eqskudatarq=225

3. New external storage and cooler. This will be a combination of Pelican's and perhaps a new high end cooler like a Yeti. I am still working through the plan, as I want as little weight as possible on the Baja Rack.

I'm looking at combinations of these and others:

http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1770

http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1740

The Yeti will probably go in the cargo area as it is too tall.

http://www.yeticoolers.com/categories/Tundra-Series/

4. M8000 winch. Lower priority.

5. Newer tires and wheels (someday - have a ways to go!).

6. 8" ARB air locker. Mr Moody put in the pump, I just need the locker and probably the 1 gal tank. Not sure if we will ever "need" this.

P1020141.webp
 
Third Member (of the truck family)

So the above vehicle swaps led me to start thinking about what I was to do for my son for a vehicle and to learn to drive with, etc.

I wasn't going to let him inherit a 3rd Gen as they are just too expensive for a new driver.

I need something that can bounce around stuff like a bumper car, AND also be a truck so I can haul dirt, etc.

The goal would be to have something to improve on over time to learn and teach vehicle repair. Ideally, it would last both the 14-year-old and the 9-year-old through high school.

I would continue to keep it once I send them off to college and they have bought "college cars" like a Scion xB or 4Runner.

Of course this would be the "model" vehicle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86-QRLNYK8c&list=PL401F88BA9CFB5B5B&index=6&feature=plpp_video

Only if it was $3K LOL.


So we are "kinda" loosely in the market for an extended cab Toyota Truck that the kids can drive and I can gradually upgrade for use with the club at events.
 
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4Runner Upgraded Head Unit and Panavise Holder

Due to a lot of different factors - - I took the first step on the couple upgrades I want to do sooner than later.

Went with a new Kenwood head unit and a vehicle-specific Panavise phone holder.

Both are great for work for conf calls, etc. I also got rid of the need for two outlets as the head unit has Garmin and Microphone and Bluetooth.

We moved the IBS around to the front under what used to be a useless plat below the AC.

The iPhone cable and USB cable come out from behind the IBS.

I now have a spare cig lighter outlet in the center console that I don't even really use!

I took the truck out to Apple Days at Fort Riley this weekend with my Son and the Scouts and the 2nd battery easily charged up my CPAP battery - I can camp indefinitely now!

IMG_0010.webp


IMG_0012.webp
 
BWJ - My trajectory falls way short of yours! I'm DONE after the above improvements or I may need to find a new wife/family. :)

I'll look into the refridg's - In addition to $$, my other concern is space and use.

The Yeti could be pulled out, put in a canoe, sat on at a campsite, used at Scout functions, used at kid's events, etc. I can also put it on the back 2" hitch carrier, as needed.

I also really don't want to be tied to anything electric that I don't absolutely have to - I have that CPAP battery that is already a nag to me.

All said, I "get it" that the Yeti would require ice, which is hard to find at times and a pain to deal with as much or more than a relatively endless supply of electricity. I also think that even with the compressor, the Engel might be a more efficient use of space - need to find that out.
 
Couple Updates

Nothing huge to mention here, but have done a few things:

1. Jason (FlatlandTRD) sold me a perfect family-sized 12v fridge for the truck. I have enjoyed using it for lots of stuff to include trips to the grocery store and Scout campouts.

2. I did finally get the BajaRack. It went on well and looks to be perfect. I added a Hi-lift jack mount and put on a ShadyBoy awning. Thanks BWJ for those recommendations!

I have been gone the last three weeks driving the 4Runner all over the place. Spent a few days getting to my corporate HQ in Raleigh via Nashville and a day/night in Asheville NC. Spent a week in a half in the Raleigh area working there and then family flew in and we made our way down to Savannah GA for Thanksgiving.

The 4Runner rode a ferry, went through some beach sand, lots of dirt roads around Savannah, but mostly stayed on road.

Recent pic with new gear installed.

No news on the pick-up for the kids and me - - lots of potential trucks, but nothing that has worked out, yet.

20121122_075136 (1).webp
 
No EFI. Pass.
 
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I know a guy that has 33's on his four-runner that might be interested in trading up! If you want to trade down that is.
 
Thanks, Erik. Let me see how things go on the way home, etc.
 
Are you going to take it down the same trail as Colin did at smorr this year?

Congrats on the purchase.
 
SammyT08FJ said:
Are you going to take it down the same trail as Colin did at smorr this year?

Congrats on the purchase.
Click to expand...

Thanks! We are hoping to improve from ONLY doing one trail - Lost Bridge Road - to maybe doing two next year :)

I'd like to get the kids into college before I really turn this rig into a trail rig ONLY.
 
CrowleyFJ40 said:
Speaking of, that's not coming with a spare top by chance is it? ;) You may need it...
Click to expand...

We need to find a great deal on a parts truck - - get you a top and me an air conditioner :)
 
take your top off give it to colin, and that gets you air conditioning.. See.. 2 birds.. one stone.
Win win..
 
tornadoalleycruiser said:
take your top off give it to colin, and that gets you air conditioning.. See.. 2 birds.. one stone.
Win win..
Click to expand...

Good thing I haven't taken this out of context...;) You'd think the gutter-mind mentality would dissipate over time. Fortunately that is not the case
 
The plot thickens:

Two weeks ago I asked if the axles had been cut/turned to accommodate the lift and the answer was they had been “Both the front and rear axles are turned up to properly align the drive shaft. There are "wedges" under the leaves, however it does appear that the perches were relocated as well.”

This should have probably set off alarms at the time in my head, but it did not - as I took the answer to be that the cut/turn was done at the time.

Of course, I found this blurb in a different post last night, which describes a “problem” by the owner:

“Leafs - rear has an added leaf / both front and rear have a "wedge" on the bottom of the stack. This appears to tilt the axle shafts to increase the angle of the drive shaft.

Front shackles are 5'' and rears are 6''. I also need new shocks as the old Ranchos are pretty shot. Leafs need to be re-wrapped as the add-a-leaf is not strapped to the others as is shifting out of alignment.”

Wanted to see if anyone was familiar with these tactics? Doesn't sound too good. May be able to simply swamp leaf springs and shocks, but that can be as much as $800 for parts if you go with all new.

I had expected to replace the Ranchos with Bilsteins, so that isn't a big issue for me.
 
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